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Protecting your family against Mosquitos & Zika Virus

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Mosquito season is in high gear in Texas and the new founded  Zika virus is on the prowl.  There have been 46 recorded cases here in Texas to date and that number will certainly keep rising as we get to the end of the summer into early fall.  While a lot of folks must work outdoors, many people are on area lakes and rivers fishing, camping and having fun, some working out in the yard or tending the garden and flowers, and kiddos playing outside having their last bit of fun before school starts, we must be aware of the danger and take precautions to avoid this dreadful disease.

The Zika virus can be brought in from other places by individuals on vacation, business trips, visiting family, and can even be transmitted through sexual contact with infected victims.  Folks this is serious and we need to pay attention!   Dr. Sonya Swiger, AgriLife Extension Entomologist at Stephenville stated, “It’s the global world we live in today, as people travel and return from areas affected by Zika, some will return carrying the virus. When Aedes mosquitoes bite infected people, they acquire the virus.

The mosquito then transmits it to an uninfected person, passing the virus to them. Epidemics are expected as infected people arrive and locally acquired infections occur, as the many media accounts report, women infected by the virus while pregnant are known to have babies with severe neurological defects. Aside from mosquito infections, additional cases may occur from sexual transmission of the disease. So at this point, controlling mosquitoes and protecting yourself from infection are the two key factors in the rigorous defense against this new mosquito-borne  virus threat.”

Dr. Mike Merchant, AgriLife Extension urban entomologist at Dallas stated “fighting Zika will be much different than fighting West Nile virus.  Aedes mosquitoes infected with Zika are not easily detected, so health officials have to rely on actual human cases to identify hot spots.”

Ok so what can you do to protect you and your family?  Well the first line of defense is the 4-D’s

Drain: Empty standing water, thus eliminating mosquito breeding sites.

Dress: Put on long sleeved shirts and pants when going outside.

Defend: Apply mosquito repellent when going outside.

Dusk and Dawn: Avoid outdoor activity during these two most mosquito-active periods

Other steps you can take for protection- make sure your house is sealed where mosquitos can’t enter such as screen doors or windows.  Manage your landscape water features where water will drain and disperse properly.   If standing water cannot be readily drained then use Mosquito Dunks or pour a little bleach in the water weekly to prevent or kill the larvae.    Anything that holds water should be dumped or treated. Breeding areas can include sites such as containers under potted plants and bird baths.

Other trouble areas are old tires, empty cans and bottles, kiddie pools, buckets, boat tarps and even clogged gutters.  Use approved mosquito repellents and always read and follow label instructions. Most repellents can be used on children over two months of age, with the exception of those containing oil of lemon eucalyptus, which should not be used on children younger than 3 years old. For babies under two months of age, infant carriers fitted with mosquito netting are recommended. Pregnant and breast-feeding mothers can safely use EPA-approved insect repellents.  EPA and the Centers for Disease Control have evaluated scientific reports and conclude mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, called IR3535, as active ingredients provide reasonably long-lasting protection from mosquito bites. Everyone will need to pitch in and do their part.

Communicate with your neighbors, if they have standing water they are neglecting, tell them to dump it or treat it. Don’t be shy when it comes to protecting you and your families health.  For further information on Mosquitos, control, prevention and diseases please come by or contact our office at 940-668-5412 or visit cooke.agrilife.org

Marty Morgan-Cooke County Ag Agent     

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Country Lifestyles

From NACs to Climate Smart Easements:Advancing 30X30

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By Martha Crump

In the April issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch, I introduced the discussion of what is considered the Biden 30X30 Land Grab via the quiet attempt to push through the formation of Natural Asset Companies. If you are a landowner and have not heard about this, I encourage you to research it for your own protection.

Natural Asset Companies would have been publicly tradable securities that hold rights to, and manage the productivity and ecological benefits of natural assets such as natural forests, marine areas and farmland. They place a value on natural processes. Thanks to the watchful eye of a few, NACs have been stopped for now, but make no mistake, this battle is far from over. According to the American Stewards of Liberty, the Intrinsic Exchange Group is the company responsible for the failed attempt to monetize natural processes via the development of “Natural Asset Companies.”

The New York Times is already helping IEG to set the stage for a rebranding of the idea with the article they ran entitled “Nature Has Value. Could We Literally Invest In It?” which ran on Feb. 18 of this year. The NYT readily assured their readers that, “Natural asset companies would put a market price on improving ecosystems, rather than on destroying them.” That is a perfect lead-in for IEG as they had already indicated that they would be rebranding the idea in yet another attempt to create the investment vehicle.

To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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Country Lifestyles

Lacey’s Pantry: Beef Chimichangas

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By Lacey Vilhauer

Ingredients:
1-2 cups vegetable oil
½ cup diced white onion
2 tsp minced garlic
½ TBSP chili powder
¼ tsp oregano
½ tsp ground cumin
1 lb. ground beef
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ to a full can of Rotel tomatoes and green chilis
8 (burrito-sized) flour tortillas, warmed
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Toppings: salsa, sour cream, guacamole, queso

Directions:
Brown hamburger meat and onions in a large skillet until onions are slightly softened. Add in garlic chili powder, oregano and cumin. Stir and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in Rotel. Cook and stir another five minutes. Set aside.
Warm tortillas in the microwave. On each tortilla, place about ½ cup of meat mixture. Do not overfill. Top with shredded cheese. Fold sides over the meat and cheese, then fold bottom over the sides and roll up. Place all folded chimichangas, seam side down, on a large plate and repeat with remaining tortillas.

To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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Country Lifestyles

Does John Wayne Have the Answer to Our Discourse?

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By Dal Houston

I am terribly saddened by all the argumentative discourse that seems to be going on in today’s world. It seems as though it is no longer enough just to disagree on certain issues. We are expected to classify someone as an enemy if they do not always agree with us on all issues, lest we be considered weak.

To make things even worse, because those who disagree with you are now considered enemies, the sentiment seems to be that it is only fair and proper to destroy them, because they are the enemy, again with the fear of ridicule for being weak if we do not fight.

With all that said, and seemingly unrelated, I am a big John Wayne fan. From watching him dive into his role as a cowboy, to marveling at his time portraying a soldier or appreciating his acting gig as a sailor, there is seldom a week that goes by without me watching at least one

To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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